Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Central Massachusetts/Sturbridge
3 places to visit
Dunn State Park
289 Pearl Street Gardner, MA 01440 508-632-7897 In winter, people may do cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the park’s two walking trails. Ice skating is done on the pond. Often, a wood fire is lit in the visitor center. All activities in the park are wheelchair-accessible. - Trail Map (PDF)
Otter River State Forest
86 Winchendon Road Baldwinville, MA 01436 508-939-8962 Otter River State Forest is a popular camping and day-use property that welcomes cross-country skiing on its many trails. - Trail Map (PDF)
Elm Park-Newton Hill Nordic Ski Park
Elm Park - bounded by Highland, Pleasant, Elm and Russell streets Worcester, MA 01602 This ski park includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain, supporting both classic and skate skiing as well as snowshoeing and fat tire mountain biking. When snow coverage is sufficient ski trails are groomed throughout Elm Park and Newton Hill.
Access and Parking: Skiers may park along Elm Park on Russell Street, in the Doherty High School upper parking lot on Highland Street, or on Pleasant Street near the Newton Hill storage building and tennis courts. Elm Park contains the easier (green dot) trail; Newton Hill has more challenging terrain (blue square and black diamond). These trails can be accessed by walking across Park Avenue from Elm Park at the Cornerstone Bank parking lot. When there is a minimum 6” base, trails will be open and are typically groomed three times weekly and/or after storms. Grooming updates and conditions are posted to the Friends of Newton Hill Facebook page.
Access and Parking: Skiers may park along Elm Park on Russell Street, in the Doherty High School upper parking lot on Highland Street, or on Pleasant Street near the Newton Hill storage building and tennis courts. Elm Park contains the easier (green dot) trail; Newton Hill has more challenging terrain (blue square and black diamond). These trails can be accessed by walking across Park Avenue from Elm Park at the Cornerstone Bank parking lot. When there is a minimum 6” base, trails will be open and are typically groomed three times weekly and/or after storms. Grooming updates and conditions are posted to the Friends of Newton Hill Facebook page.